ewald



Aug. 27. 1940. M. EWALD Re. 21,540

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING FRUIT Original Filed Sept. 27. 1932 10 Sheets-Sheet l ..Ll k

BY W

A TTORNEY.

Aug. 27. 1940. M. EWALD METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING FRUIT Original Filed Sept. 27, 1932 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY V Was/e waza ATT RNEY.

Aug. 27. 1940. M. EWALD METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING FRUIT Original Filed Sept. 27, 1932 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY.

Aug. 27. 1940. M. EWALD METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING FRUIT Original Filed Sept. 27, 1932 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. 0775(2/3/3 caalat A TTOR NEY.

Aug. 27, 1940. M. EWALD METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING FRUIT Original Filed Sept. 27, 1932 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 A TTORN E Y.

Aug. 27.

M. EWALD Re. 21,540

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING FRUIT Original Filed Sept. 27, 1932 4&5 #65 4170 41/9 44/9 M5 /1711 4 74! 4490 lggd. 477k m2 4 7 L I ":1 4 50 E X A 4 E531 4 54! F551 52;? 45? Li 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 A li/0 INVENTOR 07%2/26 (Ea/QM ATTORNEY M. EWALD Aug. 27. 1940.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING FRUIT Original Filed Sept. 27,- 1932 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR.

WZQ/t (fizz/aid A TTORNEY Aug. 27, 1940. M. EWALD Re. 21,540

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING FRUI'] Original Filed Sept. 27. 193 2 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 56 id. 574 5616 562 56/ 2 /041 9/ 90 626 w 74 2/0/ 365 I 67 6/ X 365; 5 /06 j 365 I 5 @fg: /Q INVENTOR. UWZCM'fi wala ATTORNEY.

Aug. 27. 1940. M, EWALD METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING FRUIT Original Filed Sept. 27, 1952 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 3 .w. ww m 500. O Wk W Z r A w fi W 6% W Z 5% a Z Reissued Aug. 27, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING FRUIT Mark Ewald, Olympia,

Wash, assignor to Special Equipment Company, Portland, Oreg., a corporation of Oregon of application Serial No.

Application for reissue June 26, 1940,

Serial No. 342,589

102 Claims.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for treating half fruit and is concerned not only with the method and apparatus for peeling a half fruit while held, but also is concerned with the method and apparatus for severing the seed-carrying portion of the half fruit and With discharging the half fruit free of the seed-carrying portion from the holding means. The invention also includes the discharging of the seed-carrying portion into the holding means, in one aspect of the invention, and discharging the severed seed-carrying portion into the peeling retained in the holding means, the half fruit being discharged from the holding means.

This application is a division of the application in the name of Mark Ewald, Serial Number 635,061, dated September 27, 1932, and entitled Fruit treating apparatus.

The objects of my invention are to provide a method and apparatus for cutting the seed-carrying portion from the half fruit while the half fruit is held in suitable holding means, and thereafter to remove the half fruit from the holding means in such a manner that the severed seedcarrying portion is left in the holding means for subsequent scavenging; to provide a fruit-treating method and apparatus for removing the seedwarrying portion of a half fruit while the fruit is held in a holding means and for discharging the half fruit from the holding means by turning the half fruit about an axis lying parallel to the cut face of the half fruit so as to substantially invert and discharge the half fruit from the holding means and likewise simultaneously to discharge the severed seed-carrying portion into the holding means; to provide a method and apparatus for severing the seed-carrying portion of a half fruit and for discharging the half fruit from its holding means by turning the half fruit about axis extending parallel to the cut face of the half fruit to a substantially inverted position and simultaneously operating a cutting: mechanism about substantially the same axis whereby to sever the seed-carrying portion of the half fruit and to discharge the severed seed-carrying portion within the receiving means; to provide further means for bodily moving the half fruit wholly from its inverted position over the receiving means and in such a manner that the wet or sticky half fruit cannot adhere to the removing means; to provide an automatic machine for' treating half fruit from which the central seed-carrying portion has been severed wherein the half fruit is bodily lifted from its holding means and is thereafter forcibly sepa- 635,061, September 27,

rated from the lifting means to prevent adhesion between the wet, sticky fruit and the lifting means; and to provide a method and apparatus for removing the seed-carrying portion of a half fruit wherein the cutting action for removing the seed-carrying portion is accomplished while the half fruit remains in the fruit holder, preferably substantially cup-shaped receptacle, and Wherein the hali fruit, after having the seed-carrying portion removed, is discharged from the cup independently of its seed-carrying portion.

These objects and such other objects as may hereinafter appear are obtained by the novel construction, improved. arrangement, and unique combination of the several elements which constitute the invention, one form of which is shown in the accompanying several sheets of drawings hereby made a part of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure l is a side elevation of a device provided with peeling means and means for severing the seed-carrying section of the half fruit, in which the present invention is used, taken from the front with certain parts not shown to clarify assembly of other parts;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in Figure 1 as taken from the right side;

Figure 3 is an elevation of the same machine as viewed from the rear;

Figure 4 is an elevation of the machine as taken from the left side with certain background parts not shown;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the upper portion of the machine shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 as taken through a vertical central section;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the machine taken in cross-section at the plane designated by the line 6-6 in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view taken in elevation of the fruit splitting mechanism;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the splitting blades as taken from above;

Figure 9 i an end view showing in detail the mounting and operation of complemental fruit carrying members;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view of the machine illustrating in side elevation the peeling mechanism;

Figure 11 is a vertical cross-section of the peeling mechanism taken at the line I ll I of Figure 10, with certain parts omitted;

Figure 12 is a view in perspective of the peel removing mechanism as taken from above;

Figure 13 is an elevation of the peel removing mechanism with parts broken away and taken from the side as indicated by lines I3-l3 in Figure 12;

Figure 14 is a transverse sectional view of the peel removing mechanism taken at the line i i- I4 of Figure 12;

Figure 15 is a perspective side View of an instrumentality for severing the seed-carrying portion of the half fruit and showing parts in crosssection;

Figure 16 is a longitudinal sectional view of the instrumentality for removing the seed-carrying portion taken at the plane indicated by line I5I5 of Figure 15;

Figure 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line I'II'I of Figure 15, showing constructional details;

Figure 18 is a lateral and horizontal section taken through the machine as indicated by the line I8I8 of Figure 4;

Figure 19 is a transverse section taken through the machine as indicated by the line I9-l9 of Figure 4, showing particularly the Geneva cam used therein;

Figure 20 is a plan view of the front face of a paddle;

Figure 21 is a side view of such paddle illustrating the ejecting device herein described; and

Figure 22 is an elevation of the inner wall of one of the elements of a fruit cup.

Like reference characters are used throughout the following description and in the drawings to indicate similar parts.

The invention herein claimed is illustrated and described in connection with a type of automatic machine for receiving whole fruit, which as it passes through the machine is first cut into halves, then peeled, then cut so as to have the seed-containing portion severed therefrom, then automatically ejected from the machine, leaving the peeling and seed-containing section, and then the peeling and seed-containing section are scavenged from the machine. It is understood, however, that the invention and claims of this application are not limited to a machine wherein the various functions are carried out in the illustrated sequence, or are not limited to a machine having all of the sequence of operations carried out therein; on the contrary, the invention and claims of the present application are of broad scope and cover the utilization of the process and apparatus as applied to any type of machine for one or more claimed operations on fruit and particularly half fruit.

For purposes of illustration but not by way of limitation, I have illustrated the invention of the present application as carried out by an apparatus like that disclosed in my prior application, Serial No. 635,061, filed September 27, 1932, of which the present application is a division.

The frame A frame is provided for supporting the entire apparatus and comprises upright members Ill, I I, I2 and I3. Four cross bars I5 describing a square are secured to members III, I I, I2 and I3 near their bottoms by studs i4.

Upon cross bar I5 between standards II' and I2 is a vertical bracket I'I held in position by studs I6. Bracket IT has a broadened end I8 adjacent cross bar I5 and at its upper end has a flared section I9 presenting a flat face inward of the frame. The upper end of bracket I1 is secured by a strap 20 affixed to upright I2.

The butt 54 of a horizontal bearing member 55 is fitted against the face of section I9 and secured thereto by means of cap screws 55. The member 55 has, in alignment, 2. tapped boring 51 and two bearings 58 and 59, all of which have vertical axes. The bearing 59 is centrally located relative to the frame. A lug 60 forms the forward end of the cross member 55 which has a rib 5| coextensive its longitudinal extent. The four standards It), II, I2 and I3 are held together at their tops by a casting 22, studs ZI extending through the uprights into the casting. Rods 23 extend inwardly and upwardly from each corner of the casting 22 to a, central crown bearing 24.

The driving mechanism The machine may be coupled in any manner to a suitable prime mover. In the illustrated device a belt pulley 25 is rotatively mounted upon a main drive shaft 26. The shaft 26 is journaled in bearing blocks 2'! and 28 secured to the upright members II and I2, respectively.

An internal cone clutch 29 projects from the hub of pulley 25. A second element 33 is keyed to the shaft 26 in a manner permitting of longitudinal movement therealong. Element 30 contains a coniform recess 3I having an inclined wall 32. The member 30 has at its side an annular boss 33. A hand wheel 34 may be keyed to the end of shaft 26 and may serve as a stop to prevent the member 30 from sliding off the end of said shaft 25.

Lever 35 is used for shifting the position of the clutch member 30. Said lever 35 has a bifurcated end 36 with slots 31 which clear the boss 33 so that the boss may rotate therein. Between the end 36 and handle 38 on the lever 35 said lever has a vertical bearing 35.

A side bar 43 is suspended between uprights I and II and has a centrally drilled and tapped fitting iI. Bearing 39 of lever 35 is seated in fitting ll and operates about the shank of a bolt 52 threaded into member II.

Between pulley 25 and the bearing block 21 there is a small pinion 43 keyed to the shaft 26.

Cross member I between standards It and II has a boss 44. A bearing standard 41 having a foot 46 is secured to boss 44 by a stud 45. Standard 4'! also has a horizontal leg 48 having therein a bearing 49, and has its end suitably fastened to upright II.

Opposite standard 41 is a similar standard 5!! similarly secured to upright I2 and to the cross brace I5 between vertical members I2 and I3. Standard 55 has a bearing 5! compiemental to and in alignment with bearing 45. A cam shaft 52 is rotatively mounted within the bearings 55 and 5I and extends beyond the standard :11. The extension beyond standard =31 has a gear wheel 53 keyed thereto, said gear wheel meshing with the pinion 43.

The loading mechanism A substantially triangular base frame II! for a loading mechanism is disposed between the vertical frame standards It) and I3. A horizontal cross bar II of frame it is secured to said standards by studs I2. Cross bar iI has at its mid-section a flat face I3 (see Figure 19) coinciding with the end plate 50 for supporting the front end of the horizontal bearing member 55. Cap screws 14 extend between said parts. Frame It has vertical bearings T5 and it at the two ends of cross bar H, these bearings being within the corners of the frame formed by the standards I0 and I3, respectively.

7 Cross bar II has integral therewith truss mem bers 15a which unite in a circular lug 16a having therein a vertical bearing 11. Extending directly from the lug 15a and upwardly within the plane described by the trusses 15a is an arm I9. Arm IQ has in its end a vertical bearing "I9. A reinforcing member 39 connects the lug 16a and the mid-section of cross bar I I.

A trapezoidal structure 84 projects forwardly of the machine from adjacent the top of uprights I9 and I3. Structure 84 includes members 83 joined by a cross bar 82 having a boss BI above bearing I9. The boss 8i has a central aperture 85. Aperture and the bearing I9 support a vertical shaft 86 in a nonrotative manner.

Upon the top face of bearing member I9 is a sleeve 81 which is free to rotate about the shaft 95. Secured to the sleeve 81 is the hub 88 of a Geneva cam 89. The cam 89 (Figure 19) comprises a flat plate having spaced alternately about its circumference six radial grooves 99 and six arcuate cut-away sections 9|.

A spindle 92 has its lower end journaled in bearing TI. The upper end of said spindle is rotatively mounted in a bearing 53 in a hood 94 which covers the lower part of the machine. A small sprocket is keyed to spindle 92 beneath hood 94. Feathered to said spindle 92 at its lower end is a cam member 96 which actuates the Geneva gear 89. Member 95 comprises an eccentric plate 97 maintained in a horizontal plane just below that described of the Geneva gear 89 by a hub 99 which rides on the upperface of bearing block 76a.

A roller bearing 99 is on a pin I99 disposed adjacent the point of plate 91. Opposed to the roller 99 and upon the upper face of the eccentric plate 9? is a superposed plate IIII having an arcuate body I92 of equal radius to that dcscribing the arcuate sections SI of the Geneva gear 89. The arcuateedge of body I92 is interrupted by an arcuate cut out I03 having ends forming shoulders I94 and IE5.

A beveled pinion I95 is mounted upon cam shaft 52 by set screw IN. A bevel gear I99 meshing with pinion I96 is similarly mounted on the lower end of a shaft I99 vertically mounted in the bearing 58. An offset hub H9 extends upwardly from the gear I99 and bears an annular toothed shoulder III. The extreme upper end of the shaft I98 carries a sprocket IIZ which is in the same plane with sprocket 95. The two sprockets 95 and II 2 are operatively connected by a suitable chain H3.

The hood 94 has therein a hole II4 that cireumscribes the sleeve 81. Secured to the sleeve 81 just above the hood 94 is a collar H5. The collar I I5 is a base or rest for a rotating cam I I5 having flanges II! and II 8 defining an irregular race or track. An upwardly inclined camming surface H9 succeeded by a downwardly inclined camming surface I29 (not clearly shown) are included in the cam HE. A point I2I dividing the camming surfaces H9 and I29 is shown at the rear side of the cam in Figure 2.

Depending from the flange H8 is a horizontal arm I22 having an upturned lug I23. The arm I22 is secured upon the flange H9 by means of a bolt I24 so that a movement of the end I23 of said arm will result in rotary motion being transmitted to the cam I I 6 rather than a pivotal movement of the arm I22 about bolt I24.

The arm I22 is actuated by a cam I25 keyed to the cam shaft 52. In one face of cam I25 is an eccentric groove I26 which circumscribes the shaft 52 (see Figure 4). A cam follower I21 having a roller bearing I29 projecting into groove, race or track I26 is mounted adjacent cam I25.

Cam follower I2'I has a horizontal slot I29 which coacts with the shaft 52 to prevent vertical displacement of the cam follower. Such slot allowing a reciprocal movement to be imparted to follower I21 by the action of the side walls of the groove I26 upon the roller bearing I28. The cam follower I2! has adjacent thereto a second cam I39 which estops lateral movement of the follower I27 so that the roller bearing I 29 cannot escape from the race in the cam I25.

The upper edge of the follower a narrow rib I3I. Depending from the side wall of bearing 59 and attached by standard fastening means I32 is a guide bracket I33. The under side of the bracket I 33 has therein a groove I34 that receives the rib I3I in a slidable manner.

One end of a link I35 is pivotally connected to a lug I36 at the forward end of the cam follower I27 by means of a bolt or pin I37 anchored in said lug. The opposite end of link I35 comprises a pin I4I that rides in a slot I38 at the end of an arm I59 that is keyed to a vertical shaft I49. The shaft I 39 is journalled in bearings "I6 and I42, the latter being in a block I43 secured to upright I3 by means of cap screws I44.

Vertical displacement of shaft I49 is prevented by using a sleeve I45 that is fastened to the shaft top by a machine screw I46. Sleeve I45 rides upon the upper face of the bearing block I43. On shaft I49 is an arm I41 held thereon by a set screw I49. The free end of arm I41 con-- tains an eye &9 having a vertical. axis.

A link I59 comprising an apertured head I5I is connected to arm I471 by pintle I52 extending through eye I59. A rod I53 having right and left hand threads at opposite ends is threaded at one end into lug I23 and at the other is threaded info link I59. A poly-sided section I54 is provided at the middle of rod I53 for its manipulation with a wrench.

A feed turret I55 having a hub I56 is mounted above the cam H9 upon the sleeve 81' and rotates with said sleeve. Radiating from the hub I56 are legs I51 at sixty-degree intervals. Each leg I5? terminates in an enlarged section I58. The several blocks are joined by integral strap members I59. A channel I60 of rectangular crosssection extends vertically through the blocks I58.

A stem I6] reciprocates in each of the channels I90, the cross-section of stem IGI corresponding with that of said channels. Members I6I have mounted at their lower ends inwardly directed brackets I62 having conical roller bearings I 63 at their innermost ends. The bearings I63 are disposed within the groove or race of cam H5 and their coniform faces conform with the converging opposed faces of the upper and lower flanges Ill and H8.

A fruit cup IE4 is secured to the upper end of each stem I6I by bolts I 55. The several cups I64 are identical and generally comprise a casting. Each cup has a central seat IE6 and at its sides members I57 and at its ends a member I69.

Each member I 69 has at its top a seat for a ball bearing I59. Each cup I54 has a base I19 having a seat III centrally positioned relative to the cup, and a lug I'I2 extending downwardly from the side of said seat. The seat I II is at the top of stem I5I and the lug I12 fits upon the I21 comprises side of said stem to be held thereagainst by a bolt I65.

Brackets I14 are held upon the outer face of the bearing blocks I58 by studs I13. Each bracket carries a roller bearing I15 rotating on a vertical axis between ears I16.

The belt pulley 25 is operated continuously. The cone clutch member 38, which is feathered to the main drive shaft 26, is controlled by lever 35. When the clutch is thrown in," the main drive shaft 26 and the pinion 43 are rotated by the pulley 25. The pinion 43 actuates gear 53. The force imparted to the beveled pinion I85 is transmitted to gear I89 to turn the vertical shaft I85 and the sprocket II2 in a clockwise direction when looked at from above.

Roller chain II3, through sprockets H2 and 95, propels the spindle 92 clockwise. As the eccentric cam member 96 is rotated in a clockwise direction, the roller bearing 99 and projection IIlI engage alternately the slots 98 and arcuate sections SI of the Geneva gear 89. The circular body IIlI coincides with each face 9i and slides thereagainst without imparting any rotary motion to the gear 89. As the member 96 is rotated, shoulder I84- reaches a point in alignment with the two vertical shafts 88 and 92 where there is no obstruction to an anticlockwise movement of the gear 89.

Simultaneously with such aligned position of shoulder or point I04, the roller bearing 99 contacts the forward edge of a slot 88. Continued rotation of the shaft 92 causes the roller 89 to project inwardly of such slot 98, thus imparting a rotary movement to the gear 99 (see Figure 19).

Subsequently, as the roller 99 is withdrawn from the slot 98, the shoulder I85 enters the next succeeding arcuate section 98. This arrests further rotation of the cam 89. Since there are six slots and arcuate faces in the Geneva gear 89, six advances and six stops will occur during each complete revolution thereof. The movement of the gear 89 causes a concurrent movement of turret I55.

The feed turret I55 and sleeve 81 rotate independently of the cam IIG, the latter being actuated by the cam I25. The first movement of the cam H6 is in a clockwise manner and elevates the feed cup IE4 whose stem I8I carries the roller I63 at the foot of incline II9.

Upward movement of the feed cup I84 is accompanied by the trimming of the stem from a pear therein. The return, or anticlockwise movement, of the cam H6 is had simultaneously with a shift of the feed turret, so that the roller IE3 is kept upon the point I2I and hence the stem I6l in an elevated position.

The stemming device Vertical shaft 86. above the feed turret I55, has thereon a collar I89. A sleeve-like hub I8I depending from a lever I82 rides upon collar I88 in a manner free to pivot about the shaft 86. The arms I83 and I84 of lever I82 are at one hundred eighty degrees (see Figure 6). V

The end of the arm I84 comprises a rectangular channeled block I85 angular to arm I84. A channel I86 is formed in the under face of block I85. A centrally disposed slot I81 extends through the top face of the block to the channel I86. 4

The channel I86, at either side and on the lower face of the block I85, is bordered by guide plates I88, held in position by any suitable means. Plates I88 project over the channel I86 to partially enclose it and to make a track of said channel. The guide plates I88 support for reciprocation within the channel I88 a cross head block I89. Block I89 has in its upper face a pin I98 that mounts a roller bearing I9I, the pin H18 and bearing I9I projecting upwardly through the slot I81.

A plate I92 is fastened to the end of block I85 by a stud R93 and projects over the end of the channel I86. A spring I94 is inserted between the plate I92 and cross head I89 to constantly urge the cross head away from plate I92. Inward movement of cross head I89 is arrested by the roller I95 engaging a lever I95. The lever I95, which moves in an arc parallel to the upper face of the block I85, is limitedin its movement under the influence of roller bearing I9I by an adjustable eccentric disc I96 which is anchored in block I85 by pin I91. By shifting the position of the disc I96 relative to pin I91, the inward movement of the block I89 may be regulated.

The lower face of the cross head 169 has thereon a boss I91a having a foot I98. Fastened by any suitable means to the bottom of foot I98 is a bracket I99. The bracket I99 supports at its lower end a second piece of sheet material comprising a stop 288. The stop 288 projects horizontally with the main body of said stop tangential to a circle generated about the turret shaft 88. The heel of foot I98 supports the shank of a flat arcuate blade 28I having a cutting edge 282.

An ear 283 having a vertical bearing 284 therein projects laterally from the side of the block E85. The bearing 284 supports a shaft 285 operatively connected to the lever arm I95 by the contraction of a split hub 288 at the end of arm 95. Between the ends of shaft 285 is a deformation in horizontal alignment with the feed cups I84, so that no interference will be had by shaft 285 with fruit in said cups as such fruit is conducted therepast. A second lever 281 is fastened to the lower end of the shaft 285 at an elevation in the same horizontal plane with the roller bearings I15. The extended end of the lever 281 projects into the arcuate path traversed by rollers I15 as said rollers are moved by the turret I55. The arm I83 of the lever I82 is operatively connected to the shaft 48 by a link 288 and an arm 289.

A stem 2 I8 of polygonal cross-section is slidably mounted in a boss 2| I integral with the frame 84. The lower end of stem 2! comprises a head 2I2. A plate 2I3 is secured to the bottom of the head 2I2, and a downwardly and inwardly curved finger 2M extends from the opposite side of said head. The finger 2M is disposed in the circular path traversed by the ball bearings I69. When the machine is used to treat fruit carrying stems, such as pears, the stemming device illustrated and described herein is used.

The stemming device operates in conjunction with the movement imparted to the feed cups by the cam II6. Pears are placed in the feed cups, with stems outermost, at any of the cup stations, A, B, C, or D. The first movement of the turret will advance the cup at station D to station E. Incident to the shift of the feed turret, the roller bearing 115 depending from the wall of the block I58 bearing the feed cup shifted from station D to station E comes in contact with the side of lever 28'! to rotate the shaft 285 clockwise when viewed from above and to thereby force the cross head I89, through the agency of lever I95 and roller I9I, toward plate I92 against the urge of spring I94.

Displacement of the cross head I89 concurrently moves the abutment plate 288 and the curved blade 22! therewith so that fruit carried in the feed cup moving from station D to station E will not abut the plate 288. Just before the cup advancing to station E attains such station, the roller bearing I15 passes the end of the arm 281. This allows the plate 280 to be moved in the opposite direction under the urge of the spring I84 until the plate 288 engages the end of a pear in the cup at station E. The plate forces such pear against the back member I68 of the cup IE4. In this manner, the blade 291, which is adjustable in relation to the abutment plate 288, is measurably positioned from the end of a pear in the cup at station E.

As the feed cup moving from station D to station E is advancing, the ball bearing IE9 thereon is supporting the head 2|2 because engaging the curved finger 214. As such cup advanced, the head 2 I?! dropped coincident to the finger 2M presenting its upwardly inclined under surface to the ball Hi8. Downward movement of the head 2E2 under its own weight causes the plate 2l3 to rest upon fruit within the cup at station E. As fruit reaches the station E, it is thus firmly held within the cup by the pressure of plate 2l3, and by the pressure of abutment plate 288.

A counterclockwise movement is then given to the shaft 148 to move the lever I82 in a clockwise direction. This moves the circular cam H6 in a clockwise direction. The movement of the cam H5, as before stated, elevates the feed cup at station E.

Incident to the raising of the cup, the end of the pear therein is brought against the lower sharpened edge 282 of the arcuate blade 28L which is drawn, by the rotating of lever 582, to Sever the stem end from the pear. During the upward movement of the fruit, the stem 218 bearing the head 212 is pushed upwardly within the boss 2.

As soon as the stem severing operation is completed, the turret I55 is given a turn by the Geneva gear 89 simultaneously with movement being imparted to the circular cam I 18. The feed cup thus is advanced to station F in an elevated position. Before the fruit is conveyed entirely from under the plate 213. the ball bearing I69 on the finger I88 of the next succeeding cup is carried beneath the end of the downwardly curved finger 2M which prevents the plate 2l3 from being lowered into the path of the fruit subsequently to be disposed at position E.

The fruit conveying carriage Fruit conveying means is provided shaped to conform to the general shape, size and character of the fruit to be processed in the apparatus.

A fruit conveyiru. carriage is partially supported by the structure 84 having a cross member 22 connecting the ends of converging bars 83. The other ends of the members 83 are secured to the uprights ill and i3 near their top by means of bolts 2E5. A further support for the purpose comprices a sleeve 216 surrounding a central vertical shaft 2E1.

Shaft 212 is iree to rotate within sleeve 215. Integral with the top of the sleeve 216 is a boss containing apertures 2H and 228 that are in alignment with like apertures 22l and 222 in frame member 82. Tracks 223 and 224 are supported within apertures. cm, 228, 22! and 222.

A carriage reciprocates upon the tracks 223 and 224 and comprises identical sleeves 225 and 228 (see Figure 9). The sleeves 225 and 226 are connected at their ends by cross pieces 221 and 228 forming the front and back of the carriage. Rotatively disposed on the sleeve 228 are similar collars 22S and 238 that provide circular shoulders 23! and 232. The arcuate edges of the shoulders 23! and 232 have gear teeth 233 and 23 cut therein.

Projecting downwardly from the collar 229 is a bracket 225. A stem 231 of a fruit clamp 238 is secured to bracket 235 by studs 236. The lower portion of the clamp 238 comprises a scoop 239 having a concavity 248, and a heel 2M.

Opposite to bracket 235, collar 229 has an offset bracket 242 secured by bolts 243. The bracket 242 contains an aperture 245. The end of a hinged rod 245 is loosely supported in aperture 244. The opposite end of the rod 245 which is pintled at 2 15 supports a shoe 241 having a longitudinal groove, which engages a slider bar 2 :8. Positive contact between the shoe 241 and the slider bar 248 is had by means of a compression spring 249. The opposite side of bar M8 serves as a track for a roller bearing 25!) rotatively mounted on a boss 25l having a bolt 252 projecting therefrom at the top of sleeve 229.

Upon the carriage rod 223 opposite to collar 229 is a component collar 253 having teeth 254 meshing with teeth 233. Secured to the collar 253, by means of cap screws 254a, is a fruit clamp 255 which is complemental and opposed to the clamp 238.

The collar 238 is operatively connected to the slider bar 248 in the same manner as the collar 229. A bracket 258 projects from collar 238, and has an aperture to receive an end of a pintled bar 25'! upon which there is a compression spring 258 co tacting the back of the shoe 241. The opposite end of the pintled member is inserted into the shoe 241. A clamp 259 is suspended from the collar 238 in exactly the same manner as clamp 238 is suspended from the collar 229.

The lower end of the clamp 259 comprises a curved jaw 268. Coacting with the clamp 259 is opposed and identical clamp 28! with a jaw 26?. A collar 263 rotatively mounted upon the ole-(7e i735 adjacent to the collar 253 supports clamp 251, and is operatively engaged to the shoulder 232 by means of gear teeth 284.

The boss 218 supports a shouldered panel 255 having therein a longitudindal slot 286. The slot 268 communicates through a groove 251 to the outer face of the panel. A staiT 268 bearing near its upper extremity a pin 268 for a beveled roller bearing 2H is arranged for vertical reciprocation within the trackage formed by groove 251 and an opposed groove in the boss 218. Projecting from the side of the reciprocating member 298 through the slot 266 is a pin 21!, the slot 266 being sufliciently extensive to clear the limits of reciprocation of said pin.

The slider bar 248 is carried at the ends of two levers 212 and 213 by means of studs 214 and 215, both levers being non-rotatively mounted on opposite ends of the track member 22-4. The lever 213, which is near the center of the machine, is compound and has in its arm 218 a slot 211 (see Figure 7) Within the slot 211 is a cross head 211a pivotally secured to the pin 21!.

Seemed to vertical shaft 211 above sleeve Eifi is a circular cam 218 having a circumscribing camming groove 219 with an inclination 289 reaching an upper level at 28I and declining at 282. The beveled bearing 218 operates within the groove 219.

Figure 18 illustrates the lower end of the shaft 211 journalled in the bearing 51. Shaft 211 has secured thereto a gear Wheel 283 below the cross member 55. A gear idler 284 operating upon a stud shaft shrunk into bearing 51 serves to trans mit the clockwise movement of the annular toothed member 111 to a like movement of the gear 283 and of shaft 211.

The front cross member 221 of the carriage has a threaded recess which receives a threaded stud shaft 285. The shaft 295 is connected to the bifurcated end of a compound lever 285 by an adjustable link 2131. A vertical shaft 288 is journalled in bearing 15 and in a bearing 289 within the shank of the bracket 2911 bolted to the upright 11].

Vertical displacement of the shaft 288 is pre vented by the attachment of a lever 285 thereto at its upper end to bear against the upper face of the bearing 289. An integral offset hub 291 spaces the lever 286 above the bracket support 290.

Keyed to the cam shaft 52 is a plate cam 292. In one face of cam 292 is an eccentric groove 293 circumscribing the bearing for the shaft 52. A cam follower 295 is held adjacent to the face of the cam 292 by means of a collar 294 upon the cam shaft. Cam follower 295 has a horizontal slot for said cam shaft and supports a roller begring 295 operatively contained by the groove 29 A guide bracket 291 having a transverse groove 298 in its under face is secured upon the cross member 55 by means of bolts 299. The top edge of the cam follower 295 is guided within the groove 298 while it is reciprocated by the cam 292.

At the side of the cam follower 295 is an ear 3011 which receives a vertical bolt 301. A link 3112 is held above the head of bolt 381 and beneath the ear 301) in changeable angular position and has at its other end a wrist pin 303 in registry with a slot 394 near the end of a lever 395 fixedly attached to the lower end of shaft 288.

Fruit is removed from a cup 8 at station F by advancing the carriage to its foremost position upon the rods 223 and 224 with the jaws 231, 259, 255, and 261 in a spread position as illustrated in Figure 9. At such time, the slider bar 248 is moved upwardly and radially with the rod 224 from the action of lever 213. The vertical shaft 211 is rotated in a clockwise direction, therefore, when the carriage is in the forward position with its clamps about a fruit in a cup 164, the circular cam 218 is rotated to the position presenting the inclination 283 to the roller bearmg 2111. Continued movement of the circular cam 218 forces the inclination 259 beneath the roller bearing to elevate the bearing to the posi tion shown in Figure '7. This movement will close the jaws about the fruit.

When the fruit has been grasped within the jaws 239, 260, 255 and 252, further movement of the circular cam 116 of the feed turret mechanism in a clockwise direction lowers the feed cup at station F. Concurrently, the cam follower 295 is moved by the plate cam 292 to impart motion to the linkage connecting with the cross member 221 of the carriage to move the carnage inwardly of the machine.

The upper plane 281 of the groove in circular cam 218 is of sufficient extent to hold the staff 268 in an elevated position long enough to maintain slider bar 248 in its downmost position while the carriage is moved inwardly of the machine.

The inward movement of the carriage conveys the pear across a bit 311. The heels 241 of the fruit jaws 231 and 255 are behind the larger end of the pear and advance it inwardly against the slight resistance offered by the cutting edge 319 of the bit 311.

Fruit before being fed to the machine is generally graded to a standard size. In graded fruit, however, there are variations as to size and shape. The fruit clamps of the fruit conducting carriage, therefore, are closed in a semi-positive manner. As the fruit clamps come in contact with a pear, great pressure thereon is avoided by the springs 249 and 258.

Continued arcuate movement of the slider bar 248 after the fruit clamps have been arrested by contact with the fruit, will cause the roller bearing 250 to maintain the bar 243 against the shoe 241, thereby forcing the bar 245 through the aperture 244 against the urge of the spring 249. The rod 251 will be similarly displaced.

The splitting mechanism A support comprising a boss 311 integral with the lower side of the sleeve 216 is provided for the splitting members 316. The boss 311, from left to right, has a channel 312, opening to the top and the two said sides of the boss. Bearings 313 and 314 are arranged in alignment in the front and rear walls of said boss. Shafts 315 are journalled in said bearings and extend across channel 312 and support at their free ends the members 316.

The left member 316 (Figures 7 and 8) has a bit 311 extending forwardly in alignment with the paired leaf or member 318 supported by the right. member 316. The bit 311, at its forward end, has a cutting edge 319. Shoulders 3211 recede therefrom at an acute angle. The outer side of the bit 311 and the complemental leaf 318 have horizontally disposed bosses 321 and 322, respectively. The bosses 321 and 322 prevent a Vacuum forming between the faces of the leaves 311 and 318 bearing said ridges and the flat sides of a halved pear.

The shafts 315, across the channel 312 have segmental pinions 323 keyed thereto for engaging racks 324 and 325. The rack 325 extends downwardly through a guide slot 326 in the boss 311 to a position below said boss. The rack 324 operates in a slot 321 on the opposite side of the boss 311 and also extends therebelow. A cross piece 328 connects the two racks 324 and 325, a bolt 329 being used to hold the several parts in assembly. A vertical connecting rod 331! offset from the rack 325 extends upwardly through a guide therefor in the boss 218. The upper end of the rod 339 has thereon a truncated roller bearing 331 mounted on a stem normal to said rod.

Intermediate the central crown bearing 24 rotatively mounting the upper end of the drive shaft 211 and the circular cam 218 is a collar cam 332. The cam 332 has a peripheral groove 333 having a lower section 334 and an inclined section 335 extending upwardly from the lower section 334 to a higher section 335. Succeeding the higher plane 336 is a declination 331 to the lower plane 335. The circular cam 332 rotates with the shaft 211.

The shaft 211 rotates in a clockwise direction, hence the fruit clamps of the fruit carriage will be spread to release the fruit after having carried such fruit past the cutting edge 319 and over the faces of the bits 311 and 318 and before the parts 32! and 322 are spread by the operation of the roller bearing 33l within the declining section 331 of the groove 333. Nothing, therefore, impedes the outward displacement of the two halves of the fruit when the hinged members 32I and 322 are spread apart to deliver such halves to fruit cups therebelow.

The main turret A main turret 340 comprising an octagonal figure is disposed at the center of the machine. The turret 340 has a central hub 34I non-rotatively engaging a sleeve 342. The sleeve 342 has a flanged upper end 344 which is attached to said sleeve to prevent a longitudinal displacement of the turret. The sleeve 34?! surrounds the shaft 2H and extends downwardly to rest upon the cross member 55 at bearing 59. shaft 2I1 moves freely Within the sleeve 34?.

Spaced about the edge of the turret 345 are fruit cups 345. The cups 345 are arranged in pairs. An intermittent ninety degree at a time movement is given to the turret stopping it with the four pairs of fruit cups at the stations marked W, X, Y, and Z.

Each of the eight corners of the feed turret 340 has therein a vertical bearing 345. rectangular in cross-section. Stems 341 of the same cross-section vertically reciprocate within said bearings. The inner edge of the stems 34! has therein a notch 348. A half 343 of a fruit cup. having a lug 350 extending downwardly alone the side of the stem 341, is mounted at the too of each of said stems. A stud bolt 351 passes through the lug 350 and the stem 341 for attachment therebetween. The half cup 349 has a concavity conforming to the periphery of a half of a, pear having its stem end inwardly of the machine. A cup segment 352 having a concavity complemental to that in segment 349 is mounted opposed to each segment 349.

Shallow grooves 345a are formed in the cup segment walls. The grooves are bounded by vertical sides 345!) (see Figure 22). Pressure on the fruit as it is peeled forces sections of it into the grooves 345a resulting in less frictional impedance to the passing of a paring knife through the fruit.

The cup segment 352 is movable and has depending from its inner and outer ends abutments 353 and 354 that fit closely upon the two sides of the stem 341 and contain aligned apertures which coincide with recesses in the adjacent sides of the stem 341. Bolts 355 and 35B are disposed in said apertures and recesses and the movable segment is free to oscillate thereabout. A second depending lug 351 projects downwardly from the cup segment 352 offs-ct from the stem 341.

The lower end of lug 351 has a threaded aperture for a belt 358 which is screwed inwardly until its threaded end abuts the stem 341. The center of gravity of the cup segment 352 is such that it tends to rotate about the bolts 355 and 356 to thus spread the cup members slightly apart. The bolt 358 being below the pivot of the movable segment 352, it may be adjusted to determine how far the segment 352 may be spread from segment 349.

A look nut 35!! may be used to hold the bolt 358 in place once the desired adjustment is made. Projecting from abutment 354 is a pin 3%. Displacement of the pin 355 to the right, Figure 2, will move the cup segment 352 toward cup segment 349.

Intermittent ninety degree movement of the turret is had through a Geneva gear 36I secured to the lower end of the sleeve 342. The cam 36I comprises a plate having alternately spaced about its periphery four slots 352 and four arcuate peripheral sections 363. The slots 362 and arcuate sections 363 are separated by point 364. Keyed to the shaft Hill in a parallel plane below the Geneva gear 35 i is a generally circular plate 365. A section 368 of plate 355 is eccentric and has a periphery 351 generated about the axis of shaft 558. There is a generally circular cam plate 358 upon plate 355 within the plane common to the Geneva gear 36!. The plate 368 has a section removed leaving a concave curved edge 359. Shoulders 31! and 312 mark the intersection of the concave edge 359 and the circular edge 310 of the cam 35%. A slot 313 is formed in the lug It c tends inwardly beyond an imaginary line indi ting continuity of the circular edge 11d 3M having thereon a roller bearing It A i 1 rides in slot 313.

T .e rol er 3H5 and the cam plate 368 operate with res .ct to the slots 362 and arcuate faces of the cam 35! in the same manner as the similar parts previously described function in the operation of the Geneva gear movement of the feed turret. In the main turret, there are but four slots about the cam 36!, hence, the cam is turned ninety degrees during each actuation.

Such intermittent motion of the fruit turret al ows the fruit cups to remain in each of the stations W, Y, or Z a predetermined period of in seriatim.

A circular plate 365a having a flange 3651) and groove 3550 is mounted about shaft H18 above the earn 353. The plate 355a is held stationary by a strap brace extending between the frame members ii and F2. The groove 3550 has a contour for guiding the stub shaft 314 and the roller 315 into and out of the grooves 352 by sliding the stub shaft 314 in the slot 313. A roller (not shown) upon the shaft 314 above the roller 315 rides within the groove 3550.

In the upper face (Figure 3) of cam 292 is an eccentric groove 315 circumscribing the aperture in said can: for the reception of cam shaft 52. A cam follower 311 having a vertical slot 318 therefor freedom of movement about cam shaft 52 is disposed against earn 292. Cam follower 311 carries a stem 319 having thereon the roller 318a projecting into the groove 316.

The cam follower 311 extends upwardly and has an arm see. The arm 38H supports two vertically disposed posts 381 spaced apart an interval equal to the space between the pairs of stems 341 supporting the fruit cups. Posts 381 are held in place in an adjustable manner by nuts 382 and project upwardly through apertures 383 in the hood 334., which is a continuation of hood 94.

he tops of the posts 38! are held together by a cross-piece 355 which projects outwardly as illustrated in Figure 3. The posts 38! are adjusted so that the cross bar 385 is in the same horizontal plane the slots 348 in the stems 341 when said stems 341 are in their lowermost position.

The posts 38! are at station W. As the turret advances a pair of fruit cups to this station, the cam 292 elevates the cam follower 311 to raise the horizontal arms 380 and the posts 38! thereon. thus elevating the fruit cups as the cross piece 385 is in registry with the slots 348 in stems 341.

The fruit cup closing mechanism Ihe uprights H! and II, at an elevation with that of the fruit turret, have thereon brackets 388. A bar 389 is loosely held between the brackets 388 and is horizontally reciprocable within said supports. A hook 399 is secured to upright 10 and on the bar 399 adjacent thereto is a pin 391. Between the pin 391 and the hook 390 is a contraction spring 392 which holds the bar 389 in a position limited by the bifurcated end of a lever 393 which bears against the bolt or pin 394 in said bar.

On bar 399 at each side of the belt 394 are similar levers 395. The levers 395 are held in a given angular position by the adjustment of a screw 369a and a lock nut 393 and ride upon bolts 391. The upright arms 398 of the levers 395 are spaced apart a distance equal to the space between the paired fruit cups in the feed turret and are in the same vertical plane as the pins 369 projecting to the left of the movable element of the fruit cups.

Depending from the right central edge of the hood 384 which is supported by the four corner uprights 19, 11, 12 and 13 is a lug 399 having at its lower extremity a horizontal bearing 999 (see Figure 19).

The bearing 990 supports a fulcrate member 691 having pinned to its opposite ends the upper and lower arms 992 and 693, respectively, of the lever 393. The lower end of arm 693 is forked and between the opposed parts of the fork mounts upon an axle 695 a roller bearing 694. The circular plate cam 292 has upon its periphery a shoe 696. The roller bearing 904 engages the periphery of the earn 292 and is maintained in one position until the shoe 693 displaces it to oscillate the lever 393 about its pivot 99!. When the curved shoe 695 has passed beneath the roller 004, the bar 389 is restored to its normal position by the spring 392.

Displacement of the bar 399 in the manner described forces the upright arms 398 against the pins 369. Movement of the pins 390 closes the cups 345. The closing of the cups occurs during the peeling movement of a paring blade 435.

Adjustment of the machine for different thicknesses of peeling may be had by changing the position of the screws 369a. Screws 369a may be turned so that arm 398 will engage pins 390 to but partly close the cups. This will result in paring of a thicker peel as the path of blade 435 is about a fixed axis concentric with the cup when the latter is tightly closed.

The peeling mechanism At station W a support for a peeling mechanism is provided by brackets 299 and 499 which are secured to the uprights 19 and 1!, respectively, and by an apertured lug 491 projecting from the sleeve 213.

The support includes frame members 492 and 493 which are identical and are connected by aligned journal members 404 and 405. Lugs 496 on the frame members 492 and 493 facilitate attaching the brackets 290 and 490 by bolts 40?. The end of frame member 492 abuts against the lug 491 to align a threaded hole therein with an aperture of said lug for a stud 493.

The outermost ends of the members 492 and 493 comprise a transverse channel 409. The outer and inner walls of said members at opposite sides of the channel 499 contain aligned bearings 419 and 411, respectively. The inner wall extends upwardly and has seated thereon the ends of the journal member 495.

The frame members 402 and 403 have a secand pair of transversely aligned channels 413. In channels 413 are bosses 414 having a smooth top end 415 and a central aperture 416 which extends vertically through the boss. A Z shaped bracket 41? is held upon the top face of each member 492 and 493 by a stud 418. The horizontally disposed section 419 of the bracket 411 has an aperture 420, the axis of which coincides with that of aperture 416. To the top of a wall 421i comprising a side of a channel 422, bearing member 494 is fastened by cap screws 423. A vertical wall 424 at the inner end of each of members 492 and 403 form the other side of. the channel 422. Bearings 425 and 429 are formed in walls 421 and 424 and have aligned axes.

A shaft 421 is rotatively disposed within the bearings 410 and 411, and has keyed thereto within the channel 499 a gear 429. The inner end of the shaft 421 has fastened thereto a collar 429 having an angular lug 439. A shaft 431 is disposed in bearings 425 and 426 and has keyed thereto a pinion 432 riding in the channel be tween the walls 421 and 424. Shafts 421 and 431 are in alignment. The end of shaft 431 carries a collar 433 having a lug 434. The lugs 430 and 434 are opposed. Supported by the lugs 430 and 434 is a paring blade 435 which has the shape of the longitudinal periphery of one side of a pear.

The journals 494 and 495 house a shaft 436. The inner end of the shaft 436 has fixedly attached thereto a segmental gear 431 which engages the gears 432. The opposite end of the shaft 436 has keyed thereto a segmental gear 438 which meshes with the pinions 428. An arm 449 extends radially from a hub 441 of the gear 433 and is operatively engaged by an adjustable link 442, there being a slot 443 in arm 440 and a pin 444 extending through said slot into an end of link 442.

The opposite end of the link 442 has a socket 445 for receiving a ball 44E mounted upon a post 441 whereby a ball and socket connection between the link 442 and the end of lever 286 is completed. The intermittent oscillating movement of vertical shaft 288, heretofore described, is transmitted through the link 442 to the segmental gear 438 and thus to shaft 436 and segmental gear 431.

The shafts 421 and 431 are actuated independently so that equal torque is applied to both ends of blades 435. The angle of oscillation imparted to the segmental gears is such that a blade 435 is rotated more than one hundred eighty degrees from one position slightly above the horizontal to another position slightly above the horizontal in a counterclockwise direction.

While the blades 435 are in a position to make a cutting movement, fruit cups containing half pears which have arrived at the station W are elevated by the posts 381 in the manner heretofore described, thus to bring the flat faces of the halved fruit upward against pear peeling pads 448 where the fruit is maintained while the peeling operation of the blades is performed. The blades 435 pass through the fruit just under the epidermis, the fruit and detached epidermis remaining in the cups.

The vertical aperture 415 in the boss 414 telescopingly receives a hollow stem 449 having an enlarged head 459 at its bottom. The opening 451 within the stem 449 is cylindrical and is coextensive with the stem and the head 459. It is of decreased diameter above a shoulder 452 therein. After the stem 449 has been inserted into the aperture 4| 6 from beneath, a collar 453 and a nut 454 are respectively shrunk and screwed upon the upper and threaded end of said stem. The stem 449 is constantly urged downwardly by a compression spring 455 exerting a force between the horizontal arm 4 I 3 of the bracket 4H and the nut 454, the limit of downward movement being governed by collar 453. The tension of the spring 455 may be regulated by moving the nut 454 relatively to the collar 453.

Adjacent the opening 45I within the head 458 is a recess 456 enclosed by opposed walls 451.

The walls 451 contain aligned apertures 458 forming bearings for a pin 459 which supports intermediate the walls 451 a lug 466 integral with the pad 448. Protruding from the head 458 is a tongue 46I having a lug 462 projecting downwardly therefrom.

Between the lug 462 and a lug 463 on plate 446 is a compression spring 464. Extending upwardly through the opening 45I is a stem 465 having at its lower end a knock-out pad 466 of dimensions allowing it to be seated within the recess 461 in the fruit pad 448. When no contrary pressure is exerted upwardly upon the knock-out pad 466, the stem 465 is maintained in the downward position illustrated in Figure 10 by a compression spring 466 seated against the shoulder 452 and pressing against a pin 469 extending through the stem 465. The downward displacement of the stem 465 and the pad 466 is limited by a transverse pin 416 contacting the top of the bracket 1.

A bar MI is slidably seated within the channal 4I3 of the two frame members 482 and 483. A transverse slot 412 is disposed in the bar 41I about midway of its two ends. The top face of the bar 41I carries two similar lock members 413 having horizontally disposed jaws 414 and flanges 415 in parallelism with said jaws and serving as a means for anchoring said members with set screws 416. A plate 411 held in place by a stud 418 extends over the channel M3 in the frame member 403. An aperture 419 in frame member 403 seats a pin 488 threaded upon its forward end to receive nuts 48I. The other end of the pin contains an aperture 482. A screw 483 holding beneath its head one end of a contraction spring 484 is mounted on the under side of bar 4H and the other end of said spring is hooked within the aperture 482.

The spring 484 provides a constant pull upon the bar 41I, thus tending to keep the bar in a position limited by the plate 411 engaging the base 415 of the foremost lock 413. When the bar 41I is in its most forward position, the jaws 414 of the locks engage a groove 485 within the collars 453 and thus prevent any upward movement of the fruit pads 448.

The shaft 436 carries a radial peg 484a. Normally the peg 484a exerts a pressure upon one wall of the notch 412 and prevents a movement of the bar 41I, hence the jaws 414 may not engage the grooves 485. The clockwise rotation of the shaft 436 (Figure 11) frees the pin 484a from the notch to permit the spring 484 to urge the jaws 414 into engagement with the grooves 485. Release of the bar 41I by the pin 484a occurs while the paring knife is making its upward stroke through the fruit. The jaws 414 thus positively hold the fruit pads 448 against upward movement during upward movement of the Daring knife.

Subsequently, the peeled fruit is lowered as the fruit cup is dropped by a movement of the earn 292. As the fruit cup drops, the knock-out pad 466 presses the fruit away from the face of the pad 448. The knock-out pad 466 breaks any vacuum created between the fiat face of the fruit and the fruit pad that would cause the fruit to adhere to such fruit pad. The spring 468 actu ating the knock-out pad is of a strength suflicient to push the fruit from the fruit pad, but is not stiff enough to injure the fruit when such fruit forces the pad into the seat 461 incident to the rise in the fruit cups.

Means for severing the seed-carrying portion of the half fruit After fruit has been pared at station W and the fruit cups have been lowered, the main turret is advanced ninety degrees to station X.

In the illustration of the: invention of the method and apparatus as applied to the treatment of half fruit, I have shown the same as applied to the treatment of pears and therefore the means for removing the seed-containing portion is illustrated as a coring mechanism.

A coring device is mounted upon a shaft fill) which oscillates within end bearings (H I and 6I2 secured respectively to the uprights II and I2 by bolts 613. The shaft 6I0 has a clutch member 6I4 which is compound in nature and symmetrical on either side of a central integral sleeve 6I5. The sleeve 6I5 is fastened to the shaft 6I8 by a set screw 6I6.

Short ligatures 6I1 connect split sleeves 6! to the collar H5. The sleeves 6I8 are split as indicated at 6 I 9 (Figure 15) and are separated from the collar 6l5 by a narrow slit 620. The split sleeves 6I8 have a uniform increase in outside diameter from the outer edge 62I inwardly to the crown 622 on the collar H5. The outer surface of the sleeves 6l5 is threaded and has engaging the threads a collar 623. The inside diameter of the sleeves 6I8 is uniform and slightly greater than the diameter of the shaft 6").

Bevelled gears 624 are keyed to the shaft (ill) on either side of the sleeves GIS and comprise an offset hub 625 in which is a set screw 626. A multiple bearing member 621 (Figure 16) is rotatively mounted upon the shaft 6I6 intermediate the gear 624 and the adjacent split sleeve 6I8. An internal clutch member 628 projects from the bearing member 621 and telescopes into the sleeve 6I8. The multiple bearing block 621 has therein a bearing 629 for shaft 6H]. The bearing block 621 is not secured to the shaft 6I8 but may rotate freely thereabout. Block 621 has a second bearing 630, the axis of which is normal to the axis of the bearing 628. Bearing 630 supports for rotation a hollow spindle 63L The inner end of spindle 63I has thereon a circular shoulder 632 with teeth 633 cut therein.

Engagement is had between teeth 633 and an arcuate train of teeth 634 in the beveled gear 624. The extreme inner end of the spindle 63I has a groove 635 which seats the ends of two curved fruit-contacting, holding and turning members 636 and 631. The members 636 and 631 are substantially symmetrical and have top faces that are flush and of the shape of the fiat face of a half fruit, The opposed inner edges of the members 636 and 631 are spaced apart and extend from the inward end of the spindle 63l in parallelism until a restricted section 638 is reached. Beyond the restricted section 638, the space be tween the two members 636 and 631 is first increased and then decreased to form an enlarged section 639. The space between the members 636 and 631 thereafter is uniform (Figure 20).

The members 636 and 631 thus comprise auxiliary fruit holding means which is adapted to contact the cut face of the half fruit on opposite sides of the seed-containing section, providing therebetween an opening registering with the seed-containing section through and in which the severing mechanism is operable.

The inner ends of the members 636 and 631 are connected by a block 640 having therein a bearing 6 on an axis common to the spindle 63I. The bearing 6 is intersected by a second bearing 642 at ninety degrees thereto. A flat U-shaped plate 643 having a closed side 54 5, opposed legs 645 extending outward therefrom, and extensions 646 upon the sides 645, is supported by stud shafts BM anchored within the bearings 642.

Springs 648 at one end are anchored to a pin 649 at the ends of the shafts 541 about which they extend, and at their other ends engage one face of side members 645 to rotate the U-shaped plate 643 about the shafts 641 to maintain the extensions 646 flush with the members 636 and 631.

i The members 636 and 631 have a part of their top faces removed to form a seat 650 in which the extensions 646 may lie so that the faces of members 636 and 631 and extensions 646 are normally in a single fiat plane.

The spindle 63I contains a bearing 65l coextensive with the spindle. Bearing 65! contains a shank 652 of a coring blade 653. The outer end of the shank 652 is keyed to a beveled gear 654. The face of the gear 624 contiguous to the gear 654 contains a second train of teeth 655 which mesh with those upon the gear 654.

Any suitable type of coring means may be provided to accomplish the objects herein attained and which will function in the manner equivalent to the preferred form of coring means herein illustrated. However, I prefer to provide as a coring means an arcuately shaped cutter adapted to turn about an axis which is substantially the same axis about which the half fruit turns.

The blade 653 has a semicircular cross-sect on transversely of and throughout its length. It will be noted that the coring means is provided with an intermediate portion of arcuate formation which in cross-section is substantially one-half the general cross-sectional area of the core portion of the fruit to be cored and that regarding Figure 15, the lower portion of the coring means is wider than the upper portion of the coring means. The coring means is shaped in this manner to attain predetermined effects. The outermost end 656 of the blade 653 is secured to the shank 652. The blade 553 operates on an axis centered in the shank 652 and in the bearing 6M, such axis lying intermediate the members 636 and 63'! in a plane approximately in alignment with the top faces of said members The inner end of the blade 653 terminates in a trunnion 651 which extends into the bearing 66! for retation therein. A washer 658 held upon the ends of the trunnion 651 by a bolt 659 cooperates with the pinion 654 to prevent axial displacement of the shank E52 and the blade 653.

Between uprights II and 82 there is transverse bar 660 which supports two blocks 66I sccured by stud bolts 662. The under side of the blocks Bfil contains a notch 663. The walls 664 at the sides of the notches 663 support a pin 665 about which a sprag 666 is pivoted. The sprag 666 has an arcuate edge 661 concentric of the pin 665 and of a radius which will not contact the material of the block at the base of the channel 663. The arcuate section terminates in a tangential face 668 which abuts the material of block 66I to prevent an outward pendulant movement of the sprag 666. The sprag 666, therefore, is adapted to swing freely inwardly of the machine but is arrested in its outward movement. The sprags 666 are in alignment with the coring instrumentalities and particularly U-shaped member 644.

A cross piece 669 is secured to uprights II and I2 as a base for offset lugs 610 that are in alignment with the bearing blocks 62'! of the coring mechanism. The lugs 610 at the offset sections 6' present a top face 612 and an outer face 613. A bolt 614 extends through the outer face 613 and under the head 615 of the bolt a number of washers 616 may be placed to space the head 615 from the face 513.

The under face of the bearing block 621 on either side of the bearing 629 has shoulders 61! and 618 that coact respectively with the head 615 of the bolt 6" and the top face 612 of the bracket 6'50 to limit the oscillative rotation of the block 521.

The coring mechanism is actuated by an oscillatory movement of shaft 6). The left end of the shaft 6I0 beyond the bearing 6IZ has keyed thereto a bevel gear 682, The gear 602 is meshed with a second gear 683 at the end of a horizontal shaft 684 within bearings 605. The shaft 684 carries a spur gear 686 which engages a vertically reciprocating rack 609 guided by a plate 681 attached to a cross member 688 between uprights I2 and I3.

A cam follower 690 containing a vertical slot GM for the reception of cam shaft 52 is disposed at the right side of the cam I30 (Figure 3). The right side of said cam I30 contains an eccentric groove 692 providing a track for a roller bearing 693 supported upon a pin 694 projecting from the left side of the cam follower 690. The cam I30 is rotated by the shaft 52, and the groove 692 by its engagement with the roller bearing 693 guides the cam follower 690 in a vertically reciprocal manner, A bracket 695 connects the cam follower 650 and the rack 689 to impart reciprocal motion to the latter. An oscillating motion of shaft 6I0 is produced through the rack 689, the gear 686, andthe pinions 683 and 682.

As the rack 689 is moved downwardly, the shaft 6 I is rotated in a clockwise direction when viewed from. its left end. The clockwise movement of the shaft M0 and the gear 624 rotates the coring mechanism. in a like direction and brings the flat face of the members 636, 63'! and 646 to bear upon the exposed face of the fruit within the fruit cups at station X. The coring blade 653 is in the position illustrated in Figure 17 with its main body retracted within the space between the members 636 and 631 and with its cutting edges 68!! and 68I against the fruit. When the coring apparatus is at the position described, the gear train 634 is in engagement with the teeth 633 of the section 632 at its most advanced end. The shoulder 618 at this time is against the face 612 of bracket 610 to prevent further rotation of the block 621 about shaft H0.

The gear 624 continues its clockwise movement and a rotary movement will be imparted to the spindle 63I by the gear 634 whereby the members 636 and 631 rotatively discharge the fruit from the fruit cup, such discharged fruit normally remaining upon the flat faces of parts 636, 

